Dear Marshall Mathers

I’m writing to you for a twofold purpose. The first is to say that you are an inspiration and part of my motivation to pursue the path I have chosen for myself. The second is to humbly request a few moments of your time in reading and contemplating the contents of this letter. Further down is an adaptation of one of your hit songs that was edited to reflect a need to galvanize the American people into taking back their liberties and freedoms, standing up for their beliefs, and in general taking part in their Democracy once again.

Many Americans have become disillusioned with their government or choose to give into despair instead of rising to the challenge and overcoming this adversity. There’s many reasons for this but the one that stands out the most is the fact that our leaders are so willing to ignore the pleas of the people and instead march to the beat of their own drums. But men and women like you who are famous who do have a large amount of influence in society can reach out and touch the hearts and minds of their countrymen far better than I could. That isn’t to say I can’t or that I will not pursue my dream of making it as a United States Congressman in this upcoming election, but merely to say that with your influence you can make an even greater impact to the American populace!

You are not the only forward thinking entertainer or philanthropist I’m writing to but you are the most controversial one. You’re the one that gives the least fucks about what anyone thinks, which is why you are my first choice in reaching out to. You have done what very few people in history have accomplished: overcame adversity and insurmountable odds through simple will and unyielding desire to succeed. You do not make excuses, you do not allow failure or defeat to deter you and you have never once backed down from what you believe in. You are someone who still lives by what I would consider a code of honor: you say what you mean, you show compassion when compassion is needed, and you assert your will when you are tested. You don’t back down, you stand on your own two legs and more importantly you encourage others to do the same exact thing. You are truly what a leader embodies and you are someone worthy of respect.

It goes without saying that asking this of you is hubris of the highest degree from me and I have no right to alter your music, or your image or ask that you involve yourself in matters that you may or may not agree with but I’m asking you anyway. I’m angry, I’m terrified, and I’m determined to right the wrongs of our nation’s leaders and restore this nation to its former glory by reinstating the people as the primary authority in politics. I too have overcome adversity and have not allowed being told I can’t or I will fail to get in my way. I’m not a rapper, I’m not a PR specialist, I’m a 25 year old with a hope, a dream and a 5 year military career to back it up. I have a plan for the future of America that will set us back on a path of prosperity for all citizenry not just the few, not just the selected or the approved, but everyone regardless of race, economic standing, religion, gender, or any other demographic. I believe you are a person that would very much so like to see that America come to fruition and that is why I write to you to beseech your talents and possible involvement!

None of the lyrics or royalties gained from this endeavor would be in any way my property and all incomes earned would be expressly reserved for you to do with and distribute however you wish, all I ask, all I’m hoping for is to have you produce these lyrics with your unique fire and passion that makes your music the epitome of your genre. I think if you involved yourself in this Average Joes Initiative, that I hope to bring to all corners of the country, you will see a greater success and improvement among the lives of many Americans who grew up in your similar circumstances. You would touch the lives of so much more than the arbitrary thousands or millions of fans who listen to your music. You will touch a nation, a generation, and write a page in history that cannot be ignored and will never be forgotten! You would be an integral and important part of an act that is so much greater than yourself, your music, or your country. You would be an inspiration more so than you are now and I’m asking for you to take that daunting step.

This is the part in my letter where I thank you for your time and consideration while reading this but also to ask: is something you could truly support and get behind? By all means if you have better ideas, or would have different suggestions be it for the lyrics or the impact itself please do not hesitate in the slightest to put it forward! All I care about is reaching out to as many people as I can and filling their hearts with hope for a better and brighter future! A real hope, for a real improvement that is finally within grasp. I’m willing to do what it takes to see that become a reality. I already took the first step in giving up my military career to pursue this “fool’s errand” but I’ll be damned if I don’t do everything within my power no matter how long the odds to fulfill my oath to this beautiful country. I would give my last breathe to see this country and all her people enjoy the prosperity that should be entitled to all not just the few!

Without further ado here is my idea for your song and the altered lyrics:

“Lose Yourself” Adaptation

Look, if you had, one shot, or one opportunityTo seize everything you ever wanted. In one momentWould you capture it, or just let it slip?Yo

Our hearts are drawn, hope lost, despair weighing heavyThere's people getting shot and killed, dying in the streetWe’re Furious, but on the surface we’re sad and waiting in tragedy,But we keep hoping our leaders will turn this around,election day comes aroundnobody comes out, but we think they’ll changewe’re losing now, everybody's losing nowThe clock's run out, time's up, over, bloah!Snap back to reality, Oh there goes prosperityOh, there goes Liberty, we failedwe’re so mad, but we won't give up thatEasy, nowe won't have it, we know our whole back's to these ropesIt don't matter, we’ll get backwe know that but we chokeWe’re so stagnant, we knowWhen we go back to our homes, that's when it'sBack to the grind again, yoThis whole rhapsodyWe better go capture this moment and hope it don't pass us again

[Hook:]You better lose yourself to the moment, the momentYou own it, you better never let it go (go)You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to showThis opportunity comes once in a lifetime yoYou better lose yourself to the moment, the momentYou own it, you better never let it go (go)You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to showThis opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo(You better)

The Country’s flagging, through this hole that is gapingThis world is ours for the takingMake us great, as we move toward a new world orderA normal life is boring, but poverty is close to post mortemIt only grows harder, only grows graverWe choke. It's all over. These politcos are all on usCoast to coast speeches, They’re known as patriots and teachersCampaign trails, God only knowsThey’ve grown farther from us, They’re no leaderThey go home and barely know they’re own country

But close your nose 'cause here comes the propagandaAmericans don't want them no more, they’re cold productThey moved on to the next schmoe who don’t knowthey rose high and gave nadaSo the soap opera is told and unfoldsI suppose it's old promises but our lives go onDa da dum da dum da da da da

[Hook]

No more games, We’re gonna change what you call rageTear this motherfucking roof off like two dogs cagedWe was denying in the beginning, the mood all changedWe've been chewed up and spit out and left to rot in a cageBut we kept rallying and stepped right into the next chapterBest believe somebody's paying the pied piperAll the pain inside amplified by the factThat we can't get by with our 9 to 5And we can't provide the right type of life for our familiesCause man, these goddamn food stamps don't buy diapersAnd it's no movie, there's no Mekhi Phifer, this is our lifeAnd these times are so hard, and it's getting even harderTrying to feed and water our seed, plusTeeter totter caught up between being a Citizen and a better personAll we wanna do is go to school

Get a good job to have the life toImprove our lot, another day of monotonyHas gotten us to the point, we’re like a snailwe’ve got to formulate a plot or we end up on the streets or shotSuccess is our only motherfucking option, failure's notAmerica, I love you, but this shit has got to stopWe cannot go on living on scraps and thoughtSo here we go it's our shot.Courage, fail me not, this may be the only opportunity that we got

[Hook]

We can do anything we set our minds on, man

As I was embarking on this endeavor I realized many of your songs that I would have considered altering, for the sake of social involvement, were selected precisely because they already conveyed that message! That being said I would like to ask your permission to share those music videos on my web page: www.averagejoesinitiative.com. Those songs were: White America and Toy Soldiers; there were others but for the express purpose of politics or social awareness building those two were the best options. Once more any suggestions or insights that you could give would be greatly appreciated as well. Thank you so much for reading this letter, and hopefully I get to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,

Samuel Ronan

PS I don’t know if it’s proper, preferred or even an option but if you would rather respond to this letter via e-mail, if you choose to at all, feel free to email me